They still found it hard to believe that the corpse belonged to the Demon Face Left Envoy of the Demonic Cult.
"What's that?" someone suddenly asked, noticing something that seemed to be pinned beneath the corpse.
They stepped forward and turned the body over, revealing a bronze-colored metal plaque beneath it.
One side of the plaque bore the character for "demon," while the other was engraved with a mask.
Seeing the token, everyone felt their breathing grow tight.
After Zhou Cheng and the others returned to Zhou Mansion, Zhou Cheng circulated the Northern Dark Divine Technique, savoring the effortless flow of his inner strength through his Conception Vessel, Governing Vessel, and Thrusting Vessel.
That morning, he had only just broken through to the second level of Qi Refining. He never expected that by tonight, he would have opened a third meridian and reached the third level.
Thinking about how the Northern Dark Divine Technique had devoured the Demon Face Left Envoy's inner strength on its own tonight, Zhou Cheng fell into thought. When he sparred with Qin Meng and Lin Ru, the technique had never absorbed their inner strength. Did his opponent have to feel murderous intent toward him for it to work?
Zhou Cheng decided to head to the Green Demon Mountain Range the next morning and test it on a few demonic beasts.
As for tonight, he continued practicing his saber techniques with Qin Meng.
The next day.
Zhou Cheng rose early and went to the Green Demon Mountain Range with Qin Meng and Lin Ru.
However, even after killing twenty demonic beasts in a row, the Northern Dark Divine Technique still couldn't absorb their inner strength as it had the night before.
Zhou Cheng had no choice but to return, disappointed.
Back at Zhou Mansion, as he passed through the main hall, he heard Zhou Wei and Luo Shui discussing the Demon Face Left Envoy's death the previous night.
The Demon Face Left Envoy's death had even alarmed the Emperor of Great Feng.
"Brother Wei, do you think it could've been one of those people in the Imperial Palace who killed the Demon Face Left Envoy?" Luo Shui asked.
Zhou Wei shook his head. "Probably not. His Majesty has already ordered an investigation. If one of those people in the Imperial Palace had done it, His Majesty wouldn't have ordered anyone to look into it."
"Judging by the signs of the fight, four Xiantian Grandmasters must have joined forces to kill the Demon Face Left Envoy."
"One used a saber, one a sword, one a spear, and one a great bow."
"None of those people in the Imperial Palace use a bow."
When Zhou Wei saw Zhou Cheng enter, he paused and smiled warmly. "Cheng'er, come sit here." He gestured to the seat beside him.
Ever since Zhou Cheng had spent the night drinking with Xing Yao two days ago, Zhou Wei had treated him with unusual warmth.
After Zhou Cheng sat down, Zhou Wei, unusually, didn't ask about his cultivation. Instead, he offered advice about what to keep in mind while training at the Ten Thousand Stars Sect.
Although Zhou Cheng and Xing Yao had agreed to meet at the Ten Thousand Stars Sect in ten days, the journey was long, so Zhou Cheng would have to set out tomorrow.
Zhou Wei had originally planned to go with Zhou Cheng to the Ten Thousand Stars Sect and attend his son's Apprenticeship Ceremony. But the court had been busy lately, and next month the Emperor of Great Feng would travel to Azure Dragon Mountain to offer sacrifices to Heaven. Zhou Wei couldn't get away, so he wouldn't be able to accompany Zhou Cheng.
Hearing that Zhou Wei wouldn't be going to the Ten Thousand Stars Sect actually suited Zhou Cheng just fine.
Otherwise, having Zhou Wei accompany him on the road would have been terribly awkward.
"Cheng'er, things have been unsettled lately, and there are plenty of bandits. I'll have Uncle Yan go with you," Zhou Wei said.
Uncle Yan had served Zhou Wei for many years. He was a Qi Refining Level Ten expert and the strongest person under Zhou Wei's command.
Zhou Cheng smiled. "There's no need, Father. Qin Meng and the others can go with me."
Zhou Wei shook his head, firm in his decision. "I still want Uncle Yan to escort you. Then I'll be able to rest easy."
"Cheng'er, listen to your father," Luo Shui added.
Zhou Cheng was at a loss for words. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Father, Mother, there's something I should tell you. Qin Meng and the others are just as strong as Uncle Yan."
Zhou Wei and Luo Shui stared at him in surprise, then turned their eyes to Qin Meng, Lin Ru, Jiang Chen, and Lin Yu.
"Cheng'er, are you saying that all four of them are Qi Refining Level Ten experts?" Zhou Wei asked, clearly unconvinced.
Zhou Cheng nodded to Qin Meng.
Qin Meng understood and threw a punch. The force behind it shook the entire hall with a roar.
Zhou Wei and Luo Shui stared in shock. At the peak of Qi Refining Level Ten?
A moment later, when Zhou Cheng left with Qin Meng and the others, Zhou Wei and Luo Shui still hadn't recovered from the shock of Qin Meng's punch.
Zhou Cheng had recruited Qin Meng and the others some time ago, but Zhou Wei and Luo Shui hadn't paid them much attention. They had assumed they were merely ordinary Body Refining Realm Nine or Ten experts.
But Qin Meng's punch had left them unable to calm down for a long time.
That evening, Zhou Wei and Luo Shui came to Zhou Cheng's courtyard. Seeing Qin Meng and the other seven there, they felt a complicated mix of emotions.
The two sat in Zhou Cheng's study, wanting to ask something but holding back.
"Father, Mother, don't worry. Qin Meng and the others are absolutely loyal and trustworthy," Zhou Cheng said, knowing what they wanted to ask.
Then he added, "This time, I'll take only Qin Meng, Lin Ru, Jiang Chen, and Yang Yu with me to the Ten Thousand Stars Sect. Meng Siyao, Mu Ling, and Zhang Li will stay at Zhou Mansion. In the future, you can take them with you when you go out."
Zhou Wei and Luo Shui exchanged a glance.
In the end, Zhou Wei nodded.
His heart meridian was injured, so having three more Qi Refining Level Ten guards by his side would be a good thing.
The next day, Zhou Cheng looked at the boxes of luggage—ten of them in all—and couldn't help but sigh. "Mother, I'm only going to the Ten Thousand Stars Sect to train. I don't need to bring all this."
Luo Shui replied, "You'll be gone for a year or even longer. It's better to take more."
"And when you get to the Ten Thousand Stars Sect, listen to your master."
"Be sure to get along with your senior brother."
Zhou Cheng smiled wryly. "I know, Mother."
In the morning sunlight, Zhou Wei and Luo Shui escorted Zhou Cheng out of the Capital City and watched him ride farther and farther away.
"Cheng'er has grown up," Zhou Wei said with a sigh, watching his son's retreating figure.
Once they were far from the Capital City, they reached a stretch of barren land. Zhou Cheng stored all ten boxes of luggage his mother, Luo Shui, had prepared for him inside the Heaven and Earth Cauldron, then he and Qin Meng and the others picked up their pace.
The five rode fine steeds, each capable of covering a hundred miles a day, galloping along the official road.
To keep the horses' strength up, Zhou Cheng even took out special spirit medicines to feed them.
The sky slowly darkened.
Zhou Cheng looked up at the sky. Seeing a village ahead, he decided to stop there with Qin Meng and the others for the night and continue their journey tomorrow.
The horses had traveled all day. Even with spirit medicines to restore their strength, they were starting to tire.
But when the group arrived at the village, they found it in ruins, with crumbling walls and weeds everywhere. It was an abandoned village.
Zhou Cheng and the others found a courtyard that was still mostly intact and lit a bonfire. Zhou Cheng took out some beast meat from the Heaven and Earth Cauldron and set it over the flames. Soon, the aroma of roasting meat filled the air.
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